Gogen Yamaguchi – GojuRyu Grand Master
Kiyoshi Yonemoto – SeiBukan Shoto-Kan
Gichin Funakoshi – Shotokan Grand Master
Masutatsu Oyama – Kyokushin-Kai Grand Master
ABKA founder Denny Holzbauer is the student of Gleen Keeney, Al Caliguri, and Goro Kurozaki.
Brief History of Karate
Tradition has it that the earliest roots of karate trace back to an Indian monk named Bodhidharma (470-543 AD) who received in the monasteries rigorous physical, mental and spiritual exercises to build strength, fortitude and defense in the order. Though there is much debate on origin of martial arts there is no doubt about the existence of the Shaolin Temple and the martial expertise of its monks.
Okinawa became a melting pot of fighting skills as early as the seventh century and certainly by the 13th century certain grappling and striking arts such as the justus and tode were in practice.
In 1429 the 3 independent states of Okinawa were united under the sovereignty of the Japanese, Hashi. One of his successors passed an edict confiscating all weapons and banning their use. A natural consequence was promotion of interest in the weaponless fighting arts. Over the next five centuries the weaponless fighting arts were practiced secretly and passed from father to son.
The systems were originally referred to as “te” systems meaning hand and later “kara” “te” meaning “Chinese hand” first and then the same sound “kara” meaning “empty”.
An Okinawa school teacher, Gichen FUnakoshi introduced “karate” to the Japanese and continued its promotion in Okinawa. In the 1920’s Funakoshi met another martial artist who became the head of the Goju system, Chogun Miyagi, while Funakoshi became the head of the Shotokan system. These two men are recognized as Fathers of Karate and most systems have been influenced by their thoughts and technique.
Karate was broth to the United State after World War II by service men who were exposed to its while stations in the East. It is currently one f the fastest growing sports/exercises in the world.
What is Bushido-kai?
Bushido comes from “bushi” meaning warrior and “do” meaning way. Literally it is “the way of the warrior” or “fighter.”
Bushido-kai – “schools of the way of the fighter”. Bushido-kai is not a style – it is the name of schools which have a direct heritage under the Kyokushin kai system as taught by Sensei Holzbauer. The Bushido-kai schools are both pragmatic and traditional. Pragmatic in that they have incorporated many techniques outside of the ancient kyokushin and traditional in their adherence to basic tenets of the original system which are timeless and absolute.
Bushido-kai students stand out in competition because of their rigorous training in the basics of kumite (sparring), kata (forms), and tameshiwari (breaking).
An organization of the Bushido-kai schools and certain other black belts from other systems is the American Bushido-kai Karate Association (ABKA). This association is for the ongoing promotion of competition, fellowship, and learning. The Bushido-kai schools will always maintain the integrity of karate do.
What is Kyokushinkai?
Kyokushinkai means “the truthful way” and is the style founded by Masutatsu Oyama who has studied Chinese Kempo. Shotokan and Goju Ryu and blended the best of the three styles in Kyokushin. This style stresses both the need for a realistic approach to combat and the necessity of mastering self in terms of spiritual discipline. It has become a world wide and highly respected style.
Particular emphasis on hard fighting, hard forms and breaking has given the Kyokushinkai karate the nickname of “hard bodies” and their dojo – “the school of hard bodies”.
Kyokushinkai, true to its name “the truthful way” and to its nickname “school of hard bodies” strives toward an integrity in its teaching and application that its practitioners might strive toward truth and discipline in body and spirit.
What is Sei Bu Kan Shoto-Kan?
The style of Funakoshi’s karate as taught in the Sei Bu Kan schools in Japan by Master Kiyoshi Yanemoto, 9th Dan.